• Treatment of chronic hepatitis B in patients with evidence of active viral replication and either evidence of persistently elevated liver function tests or active disease (should be used with lamivudine to ↓ risk of resistance).

Contraindicated in:

• Hypersensitivity
• Concurrent use with products containing tenofovir disoproxil fumarate or tenofovir alafenamide.

Use Cautiously in:

• Unrecognized HIV infection (may foster resistance)
• Patients with renal impairment or at risk of renal impairment (↑ risk of nephrotoxicity; dose adjustment recommended if CCr <50 mL/min)
• Liver disease or risk factors for liver disease (↑ risk of hepatotoxicity)
• Women, obese patients, patients with previous nucleoside exposure (↑ risk of lactic acidosis and hepatotoxicity)
• OB: Use in pregnancy only if potential maternal benefit outweighs potential fetal risk
• Lactation: Use while breastfeeding only if potential maternal benefit outweighs potential risk to infant
• Pedi: Children <12 yr (safety not established)
• Geri: ↑risk of side effects in older adults due to greater risk of renal or cardiac disorders.

Derm: pruritus, rash.

F and E: LACTIC ACIDOSIS.

GI: ↑liver enzymes, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dyspepsia, flatulence, HEPATOMEGALY WITH STEATOSIS, nausea, vomiting.

GU: hematuria, nephrotoxicity.

MS: weakness.

Neuro: headache.

Resp: cough, pharyngitis, sinusitis.
Misc: HIV resistance, fever.

Drug-Drug:

• Drugs that are renally excreted or alter renal function should be used cautiously as they may affect levels.
• Ibuprofen may ↑levels.
• Should not be used with tenofovir-containing products.

(Generic available)

• Tablets: 10 mg;

• PO (Adults and Children 12 yr): 10 mg once daily.

Hepsera

• Converted to adefovir diphosphate which inhibits viral DNA polymerase (reverse transcriptase). Incorporation into viral DNA causes termination of the DNA chain.

• Decreased progression/sequelae of chronic hepatitis B infection.

Therapeutic Classification: antivirals

Pharmacologic Classification: nucleotides

Absorption: Rapidly converted from prodrug form (adefovir dipivoxil) to adefovir following oral administration; 59% bioavailable.

Distribution: 0.35–0.39 L/kg.

Metabolism/Excretion: Elimination is primarily renal as unchanged drug.

Half-life: 7.5 hr.

(blood levels)

• Instruct patient to take adefovir as directed and not to discontinue medication without consulting health care professional. Take missed dose as soon as it is remembered that day. Do not take more than 1 dose in a day. Consult health care professional if unsure of what to do. Discontinuation may result in exacerbation of hepatitis, usually within 12 wks of stopping. Regular liver function tests and hepatitis B virus (HBV) levels are required if adefovir is discontinued. Advise the patient that adefovir does not cure hepatitis B, but may lower amount of hepatitis B in the body and decrease the ability of the virus to multiply and infect new liver cells. Instruct patient to read the Patient Information sheet prior to starting therapy.
• Inform patient that an HIV test should be taken before starting adefovir and anytime when there is a chance patient was exposed to HIV.
• Inform patient that adefovir does not reduce the risk of transmission of hepatitis B to others through sexual contact or blood contamination. Caution patient to use a condom and to avoid sharing needles, toothbrushes or razor blades, or donating blood to prevent spreading the HBV to others.
• Instruct patient to notify health care professional immediately if signs of lactic acidosis (weakness or tiredness, unusual muscle pain, dyspnea, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, feelings of coldness especially in arms or legs, dizziness, lightheadedness, fast or irregular heartbeat) occur. Risk is increased in patients with serious liver problems, are female, are obese, or have been taking nucleoside analog medicines for a long time.
• Caution patient to notify health care professional if signs of hepatotoxicity (jaundice, dark urine, light colored bowel movement, anorexia, nausea, bruising, lower stomach pain) occur.
• Instruct patient to notify health care professional of all Rx or OTC medications, vitamins, or herbal products being taken and consult health care professional before taking any new medications.
• Advise female patient to avoid breastfeeding and to notify health care professional if pregnancy is planned or suspected. Encourage patients to enroll in pregnancy registry to monitor outcomes in women exposed to adefovir during pregnancy by calling the Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry at 1-800-258- 4263.
• Emphasize the importance of regular blood tests to check HBV levels, as well as renal and hepatic function.

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